3 Reasons Why Birds May Not Be Using Your Bird Bath

Here’s how to ensure your bird bath is safe and welcoming to your feathered friends.

Watching birds sip and splash around in your bird bath is enjoyable, and it’s also a great way to support a healthy bird population year-round. “During hot summer months and drought, there aren’t many water sources, and a bird bath can become quite popular amongst the local birds,” says Jennifer McCarthy Tyrrell, engagement manager, Audubon South Carolina. “During the winter when water is locked up in the form of ice, providing fresh water with a bird bath heater can bring in many birds for a drink.”

Meet The Expert

Jennifer McCarthy Tyrrell is the engagement manager, Audubon South Carolina.

Birds primarily use bird baths for drinking and bathing. When birds are young, they get water from their food. But once they’ve left the nest, they regularly drink water. “Feather condition and health are crucial to a bird’s survival,” says Tyrrell. “Bathing and preening feathers keeps them in good shape to help regulate body temperature and ensure they can fly. Being able to fly helps birds find food, attract mates, and evade predators.”

Why Birds Don’t Visit Your Bird Bath

What if it seems like your local birds aren’t interested in your bird bath? There are a few reasons they may not visit:

Your bath is too deep. “If your bath is deeper than 1-2 inches in the center, many smaller songbirds will feel wary of the depth and may only take a drink from the rim of the bath,” says Tyrell.
The water is murky. “If the water is cloudy or has algae or mildew growing in it, that’s not healthy or appealing to birds,” says Tyrell.
It’s too high. Raised or elevated bird baths look nice, but ground level baths may be more inviting since birds are used to bathing in natural puddles on the ground.

Do Hummingbirds Use Bird Baths?

Hummingbirds typically don’t use bird baths because they’re often too deep for them. However, they will use very shallow baths or infinity edge water features where they can comfortably stand and splash in shallow water. They’ll also use misters, so spray a mister toward a shrub or perennial that has wide leaves and stems for hummers to perch on and bathe in the mist, says Tyrrell.

How To Choose a Bird Bath

If you’re shopping for a new bird bath, the shape and size don’t matter much, as long as it’s shallow enough and the edges allow for perching. The deepest part of the bath should be no more than one to 1 ½ inches deep. If you already have a bird bath that’s too deep, add a layer of river rocks in the bottom so birds can use it more easily, says Tyrell.

There are many different types of bird bath materials, and they all have pros and cons:

Plasticis inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to clean, but it accumulates algae fast so you’ll need to clean plastic baths frequently.
Metal is lightweight and easy to clean but can rust or get too hot in the sun.
Concretebird baths are sturdy, but the porous nature make them more susceptible to harboring bacteria, so clean them often. Tyrell suggests not using the two-piece concrete types if you have toddlers because kids find water irresistible to play in and these baths can topple over on kids.
Glassbaths are pretty and easy to clean but they may be too slippery for birds, causing them to lose traction. This means birds will drink from glass baths more than bathe, says Tyrrell. Glass also will shatter in freezing temperatures.

Birds also are drawn to the sound of running water, so adding a small fountain head helps attract them and also prevents mosquitoes from breeding in the bird bath. Make sure to get a pump with a sensor that will shut off when the water dries up so you don’t burn it out, says Tyrrell.

Where To Place Your Bird Bath

Place your bird bath in an area where you can enjoy watching the birds without disturbing them, says Tyrell. But keep these points in mind:

Provide cover. Place the bath near a brush pile, evergreen or shrub so birds can make a quick escape if threatened by a hawk or other predator.
Be wary of placing it where you know outdoor cats could ambush the birds.
Make sure it’s not too close to a seed feeder where stray shells and seeds could accumulate and spoil the water.

How To Clean Your Bird Bath

To make your bird bath a safe, welcoming place, clean it regularly. “Water should be replaced every few days, which also prevents mosquito breeding,” says Tyrrell. “Every few weeks, give the bath a good scrub to clean away algae or bacterial growth. Use diluted bleach or vinegar to scrub and disinfect the surface. If it’s textured, use a stiff brush and bleach to ensure the surface of your bath isn’t harboring disease.”

When you’re providing water (or food) for wildlife, it’s important to make sure it won’t make them sick. “You don’t want communicable diseases to be transmitted. Keeping bird baths and feeders clean and fresh is crucial to your local bird population’s health,” says Tyrrell.

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